Maria Santiago: Social Work Is What I'm Meant to Do

I have two immigrant parents—hailing from the Philippines and Puerto Rico—who in turn became successful doctors in the fields of psychiatry and pediatrics. They encouraged my brother and me to follow our creativity, and I went on to study film.

In my third year at film school, I was lucky enough to intern in the Philippines and meet women who truly changed my life. I discovered I liked talking to them without a microphone and camera. I wanted to sit with them and hear their stories, and I discovered a passion for direct service work. It ignited me more than anything I ever did before.

I love social work. It’s what I’m meant to do.

I also love working in the library. Adelphi’s Manhattan Center is like a home away from home. We are all like family.

I use the library a lot too. I often look for books and videos on topics I am interested in. I like to do research, as social work is an ever-changing field.

I’m truly grateful to be a part of the team at the Manhattan Center Library. My colleagues are some of the smartest, funniest and most incredible people I have ever met, and I often visit, even when I am not working, just to say hello; it really brightens my day.